Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Syria
Syria: Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 5.87 million people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Syria, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Syria is 5.87 million people, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Syria peaked at 7.12 million people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1950.
Syria ranks 50th of 182 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 601,270 people | 0 people | 1.20 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.65 million people | 1.48 million people | 1.81 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.53 million people | 3.24 million people | 3.82 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.80 million people | 4.39 million people | 5.21 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.75 million people | 4.38 million people | 7.12 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.87 million people | 5.87 million people | 5.87 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More reference data data for Syria
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.329 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.3623 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies -1.58 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Consumer price index 614.95 2010 = 100 (2019)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.14 °C (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.2737 °C (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Syria?
- Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Syria was 5.87 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.12 million people in 2010.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1950.
- How does Syria rank for number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Syria ranks 50th out of 182 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.